American Samoa bid to set up US National Guard unit

American Samoa's member of the US Congress Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin has introduced legislation to authorise a National Guard unit in American Samoa.

At present the only military presence in the territory is an Army Reserve unit.

The Congressman says one of the lessons of the 2009 tsunami is that American Samoa is prone to natural disasters and it must be prepared.

He says with American Samoa's isolation in the Pacific, it is difficult to co-ordinate and organise first responders from the mainland.

Faleomavaega says American Samoa has the highest per capita enlistment rate in the US military and he believes this relationship would be strengthened by establishing a National Guard unit in American Samoa.